Suspended track for elevators and carriers.



I. M. BOYD.

SUSPENDED TRACK FOR ELEVATORS AND CARRIERS.

- APPLIGATION FILED MAY20,1908.

PATENTBD FEB. 13, 1906.

UNITED snares Parana carton.

JOHN M. BOYD, OF FOND DU LAC, WISCONSIN.

SUSPENDED TRACK FOR ELEVATORS AND CARRIERS;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1906-.

Original application filed December 2'3, 1901, Serial No. 37,029.Divided and this application filed Mai 20, 1903. serial No. 158.010.

To 00% whom, it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN M. BOYD, a citizenof the United States, residing at Fond du Lac, in the county of Fond duLac and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Suspended Tracks for Elevators and Carriers, of whichthe following is a specification, this being a divisional application ofthat filed byme December 23, 1901, Serial No. 87,029, for hay-carrierand track apparatus.

,My invention relates to improvements in tracks adapted to be suspendedin the peak of a barn or in other places where it is desired to elevatehay or other material and to deliver it at diflerent points alongunderneath a track by means of an elevator and carrier adapted to travelthereon, and has for its object to provide an apparatus of simple,strong, and durable construction, easily and quickly put up and securedin place, and adapted to safely support the carrier close up to therafters or other overhead support (allowing sufficient room to travelback and forth thereon) and allow loads to be pulled in close up to thetrack'easily and quickly without danger of cramping or binding eitherthe carrier or track, and easily taken down when desired; and itconsists in the improved construction, combination, and arrangement ofthe various parts, substantially as shown in the drawings and pointedout in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of referenceindicate corre sponding parts, it will be noticed that the track-rail(which may consist of either a sin gle T-ra'il or two pieces ofangle-rail clamped together) is formed with a central stiffening orsupporting part, to which the supporting hangers or hooks are attached,and lateral or side extensions or flanges upon which the carrier-wheelsmay run in the usual manner,

splice-clamps being also provided for splicing or clamping togetherdifferent sections of rail to make a track of any desired length withoutdrilling or riveting, and end stops to prevent the carrier from runningoff the end of the rail, the body of the carrier being carriedunderneath the'rail by side arms or hangers attached to the wheels onthe track in the usual manner, as shown in my former application notedabove, of which this is a division.

In the drawings, Figure "1 is a detail view of the different parts ofthe hanger-hook or track-hanger, showing how it is constructed andattached to a single or T rail. Fig. 2 is also a detail view of the sameform of hook with the different parts in place, being locked both to thetrack-rail and to the supporting rafter iron or bracket, and showing theend stop for the carrier hooked in place in the rafter-bracket. Fig. 3is a cross-section of the binding block and clamp for track formed withtwo angle-rails, also detail views of the parts separately and inposition for use. Fig. 4 is a side elevation and rear end view of thetrack hanger or hook formed for use with this style of rail. Fig. 5 is adetail view of the splice-clamps for splicing together differentsections of the two styles of rail. Fig. 6 is a detail view of amodified form of the hanger-hooks, showing how the sides may be tiedtogether close across the top of the rail; and Fig. 7 is a detail viewof a modified form of the hook and binding-clamp adapted for a doublerail.

In the drawings, 1* represents the rafterbracket adapted to be attachedto the rafters or other supports in the ordinary manner.

it h h If h are the hanger-hooks or trackhangers adapted to be hookedinto the rafterbrackets i" or other overhead support to support thetrack-rail, being wedged or keyed to said solid or T rail T, Figs. 1 and2, by a supporting wedge or key d, clasping one side of the upper beadof said rail, the lower end of the hanger-hook being formed to engageunder said bead on the opposite side of the rail and the upper part ofsaid wedge or key d being formed with lateral ribs or side extensions dand adapted to pass through an opening in the body of the hook parallelwith the rail, as inFig. 2, thus clasping and support ing said rail bythe upper bead, as shown, when the closing-link r, Fig. 1, may be put inplace, as in Fig. 2, and the ends bent around or closed, thus lockingthe wedge or key d in the hook and the upper end of the hook in thebracket 7', as shown, and at'each end of the track the end stop 1,formed in the shape of a loop, with the ends adapted to pass up eachside of the rail, may be hooked at its upper end into therafter-bracket, as shown, ready to catch and stop the carrier, as willbe readily understood.

When two parallel rails n n are used instead of one single T-rail, as inFigs. 3 and 4 the supporting wedge or key is formed with lateral or sideextensions 8 s, as at (1 Fig. 4, at the lowerend, to support both rails,the upper end being provided with lateral ribs and passing through thebody of the hook h, the same as the other formof wedge or key throughthe hook h when a single rail is used, the lower ends of the hook hextending down at each side of the rails n n, as shown, to hold them inplace, and the supporting wedge may be locked in place by a keyor pin Jas shown, leaving the upper part of hook open in either style of hook,or the closing-link 1" may be used, thus closing the hook also,as inFig. 2, as desired, or a rivet or key may be passed through the eye inthe-end of said wedge, 01'' said eye or extension maybe'bent around andclenched, if desired, when made malleable, or the wedge otherwisesecured.

The track hangers or hooks may also 'be formed with recesses orguideways at each side, as between the'lugs or extensions 7L2 h to forma guide for and to receive and support the stop or trip block for thecarrier, as shown in my former application referred to above, ifdesired, especially for use at the point where load is raised, (orwherever it may be desired to attach a stop at'times,) thus holding "thestop up, so that the endwise strain when load is being raised will comeup against the rafterbrackets and rafters and relieve the trackrail and.also support the stopin position-both above and below and hold itparallel with track and leave the under side of the rail clear, witheither a double or. single rail track.

M, Fig. 3, is a binding-block formed with side extensions 8 s at thelower end, similar to the supporting-wedge d Fig. 4, and an extension orhook n at the upper end, also short lateral ribsor extensions formingahead n similar to the supporting-wedges d (1 Figs. 1, 2, and '4, saidblocks being adapted "tobe placed at short distances apart'between therails n it when two rails are used, as shown in .detail and sectionalviews in said Fig. 3, and

clamped in place by binding-clamps O formed with downwardly-extendingsides n 'n/ to hold the rails in place and inwardly-extendin-g ribs orextensions n n to-pass underneath the side extensions of the headn ofeach bind- Y ing-block n (being similar to-the lower-end of hook h,Fig.4) and resting on the upper edges of the rails, as shown, the sides nbeing connected at the ends across the rails, the crossbar or loopformed at one end being extended out beyond theinside ribs n n farenough to allow the clamp to be passed down over the head n of the saidbinding-block n and slid along on the rails until clamped tightly inplace, as shown, with the cross-bar at the opposite end under the hook n,-thus greatly stiffening the rails and holding-them together betweenthe hangers.

H'H, Fig. 5, are two similar sides or lates of a splice-clamp, which,being preferabi y duplicates and reversible and adapted to fit into eachother at the top and ends above the rail to prevent 'en'dwise movementand being clamped together against each side of adj oining ends of thesingle rail T, with bolts across the top of the rail, as shown, form asimple and reliable splice-clamp. In the samefigure is also shownanother forrnof splice-clamp n for use between two angle-rails n n,being formed with a lower part 3 extending sidewise underneath the railssimilar to the key or wedge (1 Fig. 4, and binding-block n Fig. 3, tosupport the rails, which rails may bespliced by breaking joints, ifdesired, as will be understood, the ends ofjoined rails being shown indotted lines, the other in full lines, said spliceclamp being formedwith upper extensions or heads n at each end, similar to the head n ofthe binding-block "a Fig. 3 (and also quite similar to the head ofsupporting-wedge (1 Fig. 4, )and for-the same purpose, thebinding-clamps n, Fig. 3, being slipped down over said heads n at eachend and pushed or driven along into engagement therewith in the samemanner as with the binding-block n heretofore described, thus looking itfirmly and clamping'the rails together, and to further secure the samein either case a wedge may be driven into the extending loop at the end,or abolt B and washer maybe used, as shown, passingbetween the rails,and thenut of said'bolt may be locked in place bya pin or key J, asshown, or the clamp maybe secured by said pin or key alone, orotherwise, similar to the supporting-Wedges 01 (1 Figs. 2 and 4. At h7?, Fig. 6, are shown modified forms of the'hooks h 77/, .Figs. 2 and 4,(not shown in former-application) said hooks being formed withcross-ties E at the'front, close above the track-opening, and withrecesses at the rear, into which hooks or extensions m m, formed on thesupporting-wedges d d, engage ,above the rail -to prevent "the lowerparts of the hooks from spreading or opening. it h", Fig. 7, representalso another modlfied form of the'track'hanger or hook for the doublerail, (also added tothis application,) showing the same in side and edgeviews, the hook in this case being formed in one continuous pieceextendingdownbetween the rails and being provided with lateralprojections or side extensions at thelower ends, similar to those at s son the supporting-wedge (1 Fig. 4, and also the splice-clamp n, Fig. '5,and binding- '-block M, Fig. 3, to support the rails, a binding-clamp Cbeing provided for use with this form of hook, similar to that shown atC,

Figs. 3 and 5, and having downwardly-extendingv sides 12/ n andinwardly-projecting lugs n n for the same purpose, except that in thiscase the cross-bars at the ends above the rails are not extended outinto loops and the inwardly-projecting lugs n n are formed with openingsto allow outwardly-projecting lugs or extensions n it", formed on eachside of the body of the hook, to pass through as the said clamp isslipped down over .the hook and astride the rails when a looped key orstaple Z (or two straight nails, keys, or pins) may be driven in betweenthe lugs n of the clamp and the lugs n of the hook, as shown, instead ofdriving the clamp along on the rail, as in Figs. 3 and 5, thuslockingthe clamp and hook, when the ends of said key or staple may be clenchedback, as shown in dotted linesat Z at the left of the figure, to securethe key from working out, or said clamps may be formed with one endopen, to be closed with a bolt or otherwise after being slipped ordriven in place in either case, as it is also evident that thismodification may be used for the splice-clamp and binding-block shown inFigs. 3 and 5 also.

Either form of this track-rail when put together with the splice-clamps,track-hangers, and end stops, as described, to form a complete track andhung in the rafter-brackets or other overhead support, will form aswinging track supported along its center and adapted to allow thecarrier-wheels to pass at each side of its central supports and splicesand clear underneath to allow hay, &c., to be dragged in close up, thestop-block for the carrier being supported close up to the rafters, asheretofore described, and there being no depending end of hangers,splices, &c., to interfere, and the same carrier may be used on eitherstyle of rail, and both carrier and track may be easily put up andsecured in place or taken down, if desired, as will be readilyunderstood from the foregoing. It is evident that rails of difierentshapes in crosssection may also be used with these hang-' ers, clamps,&c., the lower ends of the trackhangers, the wedges or keys and clamps,&c., being formed to fit the rails, also that the upper ends of thehangers may be made in the form of a loop, if desired, though I preferthe hooked shape as being more easily put up or taken down separate fromthe rafter-brackets, (or floor-hooks, when used in a ridgepiece,) alsothat other modifications may be made without departing from the spiritof my invention, and I therefore wish it distinctly understood that Ireserve to myself all such modifications, parts, and combinations asproperly come within the scope of my invention and for all purposes forwhich they may be found to be adapted and useful.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a suspended track apparatus for elevators and carriers, incombination with a suitable track rail or way, a track-hanger providedwith an upper extension by wh1ch it may be suspended, and formed at thelower end to engage with the track rail or way, a separate wedge or keyadapted to key the same to said track rail or way to support said rail,and separate or independent means to secure said wedge or key in placeendwise, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In combination with a suitable track rail or way, a track-hangeradapted to be suspended from a rafter-bracket or other support, andformed with an opening or channel through its body at or near the lowerend to receive a wedge or key, a wedge or key adapted to engage in saidopening and lock the hanger to the track-rail, and means to secure saidwedge in place endwise, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In combination with a suitable track rail or way, a track-hangerformed with an upper extension by which it may be suspended, and anopening, channel, or key-seat, through its body parallel with thetrack-rail, and a suspending and clamping device adapted to engage withthe track-rail, and formed with a head, wedge, or key, at its upper endadapted to engage in said opening or keyseat in the track-hanger proper,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In combination with the track rail or way, a track-hanger adapted tobe connected with a support above the rail, and formed at its lower endto engage with the rail or way, and provided with 'an intermediateopening or key-seat through its body parallel with the rail, and a keyor wedge adapted to engage in said opening and formed with a lower partor extension adapted to support and hold the rail or way in properposition in conjunction with the lower end of the main partof saidtrack-hanger, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 5. Atrack-hanger formed with means for connecting with an overhead support,and adapted to connect with a track rail or way at its lower end, andprovided with an intermediate opening or key-seat parallel with thetrack, and a lower part adapted to engage with the track-rail, andformed with a head at its upper end provided with lateral ribs or lugsadapted to engage in said opening in the main part of the hanger andlock the same in connection with the track-rail, substantially as andfor the purposes set forth.

6. A track-hanger formed with an upper or main part adapted to beconnected with an overhead support, and a lower part adapted to engagethe track-rail, and means whereby said upper and lower parts may bewedged or keyed together endwise to support the rail in proper position,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. A track-hanger consisting of an upper supporting part adapted toengage with the rail at its lower end, a lower part adapted to engagewith said upper part above the rail through its center, and lengthwiseof the track, and hold the same in locked engagement with the rail, andextraneous means to prevent the disengagement of the parts by the rattleand jar of the track while in use, substantially as and for the purposesset forth. I

8. A track-hanger formed with a hooked upper end to engage with arafter-bracket or other support, a lower, end adapted to engage withthetrack-rail, means for connecting said lower end in locked engagementwith the track-rail, and a rod or link to connect said means with saidhook and lock themboth in place, substantially as and for the purposessetforth.

9. A track-hanger formed with a hooked upper end, and adapted to engagewith the track-rail at itslower end, and provided with an opening orchannel through its body adapted toreceive a wedge or key, a wedge orkey adapted toengage in said opening and clamp said hanger to the rail,and a rod or link adapted to lock said wedge in said opening and connectthesame with the hook, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

10. A trackehangerformed with-an upper suspending part adapted toreceiveand support .the upper end ofa lower or clamping part, a lower partadapted to clamp or wedge said upperpart;to the traclerail, and a rod,key, or link, adapted to holdsaid upper and lower parts inproperconnection with each other-from endwise movement.

11. A track-hanger formed with an upper or suspending part, and aloweror clamping part formed with ahead to engage in an opening in the upperpart, said parts being adapted to wedge together to support the trackfrom an overhead support, and means tohold the same in proper engagement.with each other.

12. Atrack-hanger formed with an upper hooked part, a lower clampingpart, said parts being adapted to wedge together to support thetrack-rail, and a rod or link adapt- ,ed tohold or lock the sametogether endwise and;to close the. opening in the hook.

13. Atrack-hanger formed with an upper hooked part, a lower clampingpart adapted to. engage inside said upper hooked part, said parts beingadapted to slide or wedge together lengthwise with .the rail, .and a rodor link adapted to hold the same together against an endwise movement,and to close the opening in the hook.

14. The track-hanger h formed with an opening through its center, andthe clamping or supporting wedge d, in combination with the track-railT, and means for holding the same together against an endwise movementalong the track.

'15. The combination of the track-hanger it formed with .a centralchannel, the clamping and supporting wedge cl, the rod or link atrack-,hangeradapted to supportthe trackrail, and provided with lugs [orextensionsat each side above the track to supportastop or trip block ofa carrier, substantially as set forth.

18. In combination with a track rail or way, a clamping device formed inseparate pieces provided withribS Orlugs adapted to fit intoand engageWitheach other at their upper edges, above therail, andmeans tohold thesame together, substantially as setforth.

19. Incombination with a track rail or way, a .clampingdevice formed inseparate parts provided with lateral extensions or lugs at orneartheirupper edges adapted to engage witheach otherat eachsideof thecenter of thetrack or way, andlowere xtensions adapted to engage andholdthe track in position, and means whereby the .same

may be clamped together, substantially as and for thepu-rposes setforth.

20. In combination with the track rail or Way, a clamping device formedwith upward extensions provided with lateral ribs or lugs adapted toengage with each other and be clamped together at each side ofthecenter,

tially as and forthe purposes set forth.

22. In combination with a suitable track rail or way, a clamping orbinding device formed'witha supporting part having anupwardly-projecting extension or head provided with lateral lugs or ribsabove the track, and a clampingpartformed withlinwardly-projecting lugsor ribs, and a loop or cross-bar ateach end and adapted to ,be passeddown over said head, a nd movedhorizontally along said track-railintoglocking engagement with said head, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

23. In combination withthe traclerail, a clamping and supporting deviceprovided with lateral extensions, lugs, or ribs,'length- .wise ofandabove the railialld formed at the lower end to engage with the rail andmeans whereby the same may be clamped to the ,rail underneath saidlateral lugs or ribs, subslaw? projecting lugs of ribs it, n,- adaptedto engage with said side extensions or ribs on said head, and downwardextensions adapted to engage and hold the rail, substantially as and forthe urposes set forth.

25. n combination with a suitable rail or way adapted for a carrier totravel thereon, an end stop for said carrier adapted to be pivotallysuspended from an overhead support above the track to prevent saidcarrier from leaving the track at the end, substantially as set forth.

26. In combination with a suitable rail or way adapted for a carrier totravel thereon, an end stop for said carrier adapted to hook into asupport above the rail and adapted to catch and stop the carrier,substantially as set forth.

27. In combination with a suitable rail or way adapted for a carrier totravel thereon, and an overhead support for said rail or way, an endstop flexibly suspended from said overhead support directly above .therail and adapted to catch and stop the carrier, substantially as and forthe purposes set forth.

28. In combination with the track or way I adapted for a carrier totravel thereon, an

end stop for said carrier formed in the shape of a loop into which thecarrier-wheels will run, said loop passing preferably underneath thetrack and being connected to an overhead support, substantially as andfor the purposes set fort 29. In combination with the track rail or Way,the rafter-bracket 1" and the loop or end stop 1, substantially as andfor the purposes set forth.

30. In a suspended track, in combination with the rail or way providedwith an upper bead, a suspending hook or hangler formed with an openingthrough its bo y parallel with the rail, whereby it may be attached tothe rail, and a hooked extension at its lower end adapted to engageunderneath one side of the upper bead of the rail, and a supportingwedge or clamp adapted to engage in said opening to clamp said hanger tothe rail, and provided with a lower extension or hook adapted to engageunderneath the opposite side of the upper bead of the rail,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

31. In a suspended track, in combination with the rail or way,hanger-hooks whereby said rail or way may be suspended, clamps wherebydiflerent sections of said rail may be spliced or clamped together, andthe end sto s suspended above the track-rail at each en substantially asand for the purposes set forth.

32. In a suspended track for elevators and carriers, the combination ofthe track-rails, splices or clamps to connect said rails, trackhangerswhereby said rails may be suspende from an overhead support, supportingWedges or keys to connect said hooks with said rails at suitabledistances, and end stops or loops supported above said rails at each endof track, the whole constituting a complete suspended or swinging track,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereby afliX my signature, this 16th day of May,1903, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN M. BOYD.

Witnesses:

S. E. CARRIE R. H. CROSBY.

Lain

